Homecoming week always provides an electric atmosphere for any high school, Cherokee Warriors fans, Band and Football team were certainly no exception. The Homecoming Dance, Parade and Spirit week culminated with The Cherokee Warriors facing the 7th ranked Undefeated Etowah Eagles. A tall task for the Warriors, the Eagles are talented and came in to this game with well deserved respect from the Warriors.
The Cherokee High Chorus sang the National Anthem and started the cool night off with a beautiful rendition. The stands were packed and sprinkled with formal dresses and guys in ties from the homecoming court in anticipation of watching some friday night football.
The game started with each team working through the usual adrenalin of the kick off until Cherokee struck first with a 60 yard run from Senior RB Blake Johnston (5) with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
Etowah countered with just under 2 minutes left with a 12 yard run that knotted the teams at 7 points each to end the 1st quarter.
The scoring in the second quarter started with Cherokee's Junior QB Spencer Ashley (4) connecting with Senior WR Jordan Freeman (18) for a 5 yard TD pass and after the extra point Cherokee was up 14- 7, but not finished in the second quarter.
On their next possession Cherokee again scored on a pass play of 27 yards from Ashley (4) to Senior WR Blace Brown (8).
Momentum was squarely with the Warriors on Homecoming night with a lead and seemingly having Etowah on their heels. To the Eagles credit they gathered themselves together and after a slippery Junior RB Raishod Devezin (5) scored on a zig zagging scamper after a short pass from Senior QB John Oliver (14) and then a 7 yard TD run by Devezin (5) tied the teams going into halftime at 21.
Halftime was dedicated to the Homecoming Courts and the fanfare, lots of shiny dresses and beautiful young ladies accompanied by proud fathers and uncomfortable young men walking across the field.
The evening cooled down as the sun had set and dew was beginning to set in on the field as the second half started. The two teams came out in the second half and it was obvious that the defenses had made adjustments to what either side had been doing successfully in the first half. Both sides fought back and forth with a few misses on opportunities to score for both sides throughout the third quarter. The Cherokee defense that gains in strength and cohesiveness every game has some real stars on it and they were shining again in this game. Brandon Hrouda (7) had an interception and along with Michael Bean (34) had their names both called out many times. Bean in particular this game had bone crushing stops of Etowahs Devezin (5). The third quarter ended with no score added and the defenses pouring on the heat in a field position battle.
The fourth quarter found the crowds anxiety levels rising as the fans for Etowah were wondering if Etowah could maintain their undefeated season and Cherokee Faithful wondering if at last Cherokee could shake off the long losing streak to Etowah that had stretched back to far to be discussed.
Cherokee punched through the scoreless second half with just 2:05 left on the board with a 36 yard TD pass from Ashley (4) to Blace Brown (8) to take the lead 28 - 21. Blace took the short pass, made a player miss on the Etowah side of the field and scampered down the sideline for the score. Tommy Baker field erupted, neighbors who hadn't heard the game noise over the past few years certainly heard the cheers this night. Etowah would get the ball back and put together a couple first downs before a tremendous defensive play by junior Safety Griffin Moon (3) to tip away a pass that would have been a game tying score. Then on fourth down with a crowd making noise as loud as I have ever heard it at Tommy Baker field the defense held and the stands emptied for the second time this season to celebrate a huge win for Cherokee.
Last year this team fought hard all year and struggled, but during that time started to gel as a team and throughout that year, never gave up on a game nor on the Coaches and the system that was being put in place. This year they are reaping the hard plowing of last year. The best of this team is yet to be seen, but on this night they gave the fans a Homecoming exclamation point and sent the Etowah student section clad in their camouflage heading home with a 1 in the loss column.
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